MicroHarvest Enlists Drees & Sommer to Build Europe’s First Industrial Microbial Protein Plant

German biotech company MicroHarvest has enlisted consultancy firm Drees & Sommer to manage the project planning for Europe's first industrial-scale plant producing protein ingredients from agricultural by-products. The facility, located at the Leuna Chemical Park in Saxony-Anhalt, is set to produce 15,000 tonnes of protein per year using biomass fermentation. The company aims to reduce Europe's dependence on imported protein by creating a local and resilient supply chain.

MicroHarvest's process utilizes molasses, a by-product of sugar production, to produce high-quality protein powder in a quick and efficient manner. The company's pilot plant in Lisbon has proven successful, and now the larger Leuna facility is scheduled to begin production in the first half of 2028. Initially targeting the animal feed market, MicroHarvest plans to eventually extend its protein products into human consumption, pending approval from the European Food Safety Authority under the novel food procedure.